<p>Okay...here's the story. Since probably 8th grade I wanted to go to college for music education. So I did. I'm a freshman undergrad instrumental major and it's not really what I thought it would be. I don't really like it. My true passion is singing, which I discovered after arriving at college. I've been so inspired by the amazing musicals I've seen and have been told by my voice class teacher (all non-voice music ed majors have to take class voice) that I have a lot of potential as a singer. But I haven't had much formal singing or dance training, or even many experiences in musicals. </p>
<p>I considered the non-audition musical theater programs available at some colleges. Unfortunately, I'm at a college that not only requires an audition for the MT program, but is known to be pretty selective. My question is, since I haven't had lots of formal training, would I feel behind if I tried to transfer to a non-audition MT school? My plan was originally to spend the next 4-6 years immersed in voice lessons, dance class, and in the cast for as many plays and musicals as possible to get ready for either the CAP21 program or a master's degree in MT performance. But since I'm having some doubts about my current major (I might decide to stick with it, but I'm looking at options), would it be unreasonable to consider a non-audition school?</p>
<p>It is not at all unreasonable for you to consider a non-audition BA in MT college program! For one thing, at most BA schools, typically you are not applying directly into a major and so your background in the proposed field is not crucial to acceptance. As far as once you get there, you will find a range of talent and background in the BA theater or MT department. Some will have more training than others but anyone can do the major. You will learn a lot in your new college. You also have a music background and that helps too. So, this is certainly an option for you to consider! And you could do something like CAP21 after you graduate to get further MT training after your BA.</p>
Try to transfer to a school with a non audition MT program.
Switch into a less stressful major at my current college (I’m considering journalism or a foreign language), add a theater minor, and with my free time which I will have more of, immerse myself in singing, dance, and being in shows.
Stick it out with music ed at my current college and try to find the time to prepare for an additional degree/training.</p>
<p>I think options 1 and 2 are better than option 3 because you said you are not enjoying your current major of music ed. I see no reason to stick out a major you don’t like. You could stay at your current college and pick a major you like and then minor in theater. But I would not pick journalism or a foreign language merely because they are less stressful and would only pick them due to genuine interest. But if you can take voice, dance, or theater courses at your school and participate in extracurricular theater clubs/shows, you could stay at your current school if you like it there (and it is only your current major that you dislike). Transferring to a school with a theater or MT BA major might be enticing, if you REALLY want to go into that field, and your school has a BFA and perhaps your theater opportunities there are more limited as a BA student there (not sure that is the case and each college is different and so try to find out the possibilities for a minor at your school and what that is like).</p>
<p>Well…just for some background, I’m at Penn State, so I think they have both a BFA and a BA, but I also think you have to audition for both and I wouldn’t have much of a chance. And I’ve heard that non-theater majors generally don’t get into mainstage musicals there. We do have a musical theater club that does a show per semester. And I also don’t think that non-dance or MT majors can take the dance classes offered for credit…all the non-majors can take is ballroom. Though there is a dance studio downtown I could go to. And my voice class teacher recommended a wonderful singer and teacher in town who would be willing to give me lessons.</p>
<p>I have a voice therapy colleague who studied communication sciences and disorders at PSU but is passionate about MT and minored in voice and dance and did a lot of the PSU Thespians shows. Maybe you could do a similar thing with minors, regardless of your major, since this was possible at PSU at least within recent years.</p>
<p>Carmello- When we visited PSU, we were told non majors sometimes snagged leads in their shows! (I don’t remember if they meant plays or musicals.) I also heard of a number of dance opportunities- a ballet group and a tap group. Talk to some theatre students there who can give you the scoop. Maybe after you have some voice lessons you can have a better feel for your potential and what it’s going to take.</p>
<p>Just throwing it out there, but Muhlenberg is non-audition and anyone can take theatre, voice and dance classes and audition for all productions. Applications for fall transfers aren’t due until June 15. Not an easy school to get into academically, but coming from PSU, you should be a good candidate. It’s much, much smaller than PSU; cost is a bit more if you attend PSU from out-of-state, or almost double if you are a PA resident; but you’ve gotta love the red doors! </p>
<p>Good luck! I hope you are able to find a way to “do what you love” :)</p>
<p>CoachC - yes, regardless of my major I could do a voice, theater, or dance minor and be in Thespians shows, although the dance minor requires an audition and so far I’ve only taken dance classes last summer (and plan to start full-time beginning this summer) so I don’t know if I would get in. Also, if I did stick with music ed I would literally have NO time to do a dance or theater minor because of the extra credits required. That is, unless I took a fifth year, which is not in my plan.</p>
<p>classicalbk - I haven’t directly asked the theater department about how likely it is for non-majors to get cast in musicals…I only heard this from my voice class teacher when I mentioned to her I was interested in being in musicals. I know there’s plenty of vocal, theater, and dance opportunities for non-majors but I haven’t specifically looked into dance groups.</p>
<p>do-what-u-luv…I am indeed a PA resident. If I do decide to transfer I will look into that. I’m sure parents won’t be thrilled to pay more, but if I’m happier with my major maybe they’d agree.</p>
<p>Also…I know if I switched majors I’d have to start over, meaning I’d probably end up in undergrad programs for 5 years, but I’d like to complete any major I’m in in 4 years. And as far as grades, I had a 3.9 GPA weighted in high school, and a 3.67 cumulative in college.</p>
<p>And thank you all for the advice and help so far! You are all so helpful!</p>